U.S. patent application number 13/657092 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-24 for system and method for encoding standard-formatted images with information.
The applicant listed for this patent is Elias Z K Ioup, John T. Sample. Invention is credited to Elias Z K Ioup, John T. Sample.
Application Number | 20140112587 13/657092 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50485397 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140112587 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sample; John T. ; et
al. |
April 24, 2014 |
System and Method for Encoding Standard-Formatted Images with
Information
Abstract
System and method for encoding standard-formatted images with
information including, but not limited to, geospatial information.
This information, possibly in mark-up language format, can be
quickly accessed and used to modify the image to which it is
appended, or it can be ignored because the image itself remains
unchanged.
Inventors: |
Sample; John T.; (Pearl
River, LA) ; Ioup; Elias Z K; (New Orleans,
LA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sample; John T.
Ioup; Elias Z K |
Pearl River
New Orleans |
LA
LA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50485397 |
Appl. No.: |
13/657092 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
382/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 40/146 20200101;
G06F 40/117 20200101; H04N 1/32128 20130101; G06F 40/14 20200101;
H04N 2201/3216 20130101; H04N 2201/3253 20130101; H04N 2201/3202
20130101; H04N 2201/3233 20130101; H04N 19/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
382/232 |
International
Class: |
G06T 9/00 20060101
G06T009/00 |
Claims
1. An automatic method for encoding standard-formatted images with
associated information comprising the steps of: automatically
accessing a standard-formatted image; automatically receiving
information associated with the standard-formatted image;
automatically formatting the information into a mark-up language;
automatically computing the size of the formatted information; and
automatically creating the encoded standard-formatted image by
concatenating the formatted information, the size, and a tag onto
the standard-formatted image.
2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the information comprises
geospatial information.
3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the information comprises a
digital signature.
4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the information comprises
document change history.
5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the mark-up language comprises
XML.
6. The method as in claim 1 wherein the standard-formatted image
comprises any of a JPEG image, a PNG image, a TIFF image, a BMP
image, a GIF image.
7. The method as in claim 1 wherein the tag comprises eight
bytes.
8. A computer system for encoding standard-formatted images with
associated information comprising: an image accessor automatically
accessing a standard-formatted image; an information receiver
automatically receiving information associated with the
standard-formatted image; a formatter automatically formatting the
information into a mark-up language; a sizer automatically
computing the size of the formatted information; and an image
modifier automatically creating the encoded standard-formatted
image by concatenating the formatted information, the size, and a
tag onto the standard-formatted image.
9. The method as in claim 8 wherein the information comprises
geospatial information.
10. The method as in claim 8 wherein the information comprises a
digital signature.
11. The method as in claim 8 wherein the information comprises
document change history.
12. The method as in claim 8 wherein the mark-up language comprises
XML.
13. The method as in claim 8 wherein the standard-formatted image
comprises any of a JPEG image, a PNG image, a TIFF image, a BMP
image, a GIF image.
14. The method as in claim 8 wherein the tag comprises eight
bytes.
15. A computer method for encoding standard-formatted images with
associated information comprising: computer code stored on
computer-readable media executing the steps of automatically
accessing a standard-formatted image; automatically receiving
information associated with the standard-formatted image;
automatically formatting the information into a mark-up language;
automatically computing the size of the formatted information; and
automatically creating the encoded standard-formatted image by
concatenating the formatted information, the size, and a tag onto
the standard-formatted image.
16. The computer system as in claim 15 wherein the information is
selected from the group consisting of at least one digital
signature and document change history.
17. The computer system as in claim 15 wherein the mark-up language
comprises XML.
18. The computer system as in claim 15 wherein the
standard-formatted image comprises any of a JPEG image, a PNG
image, a TIFF image, a BMP image, a GIF image.
19. The computer system as in claim 15 wherein the tag comprises
eight bytes.
20. The computer system as in claim 15 wherein the information
comprises geospatial information.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None
BACKGROUND
[0002] Systems and methods disclosed herein relate generally to
augmenting existing standard-formatted images. Standard image
formats such as PNG, JPEG, and others are widely used, but there is
no standard way, or sometimes no way, to attach information to
those kinds of files, and therefore no standard way to process any
attached information, if any. These formats have some ability to
store image metadata, but existing methods for storing metadata
suffer several problems. First, they are format-specific, for
example, a method for attaching metadata to a JPEG file is
different from a method for attaching metadata to a PNG file.
Second, existing methods do not specifically allow for addition of
geospatial metadata. Third, existing methods embed metadata within
the structure of the image in varying positions based on image
format. For example, the GeoTIFF format adds rich geospatial tags
to standard TIFF images. However, TIFF images are not as widely
used as JPEGs and PNGs. Also, GeoTIFF tags do not support the full
expressiveness offered by an extensible mark-up language, for
example, but not limited to, XML.
[0003] What is needed is a system in which images could be encoded
within images, images could be signed digitally, change history
could be encoded, and image labels and other annotations could be
encoded along with the image. These capabilities exist for PDF
documents, but not for other formats and not in a way that can be
processed in a standard way.
SUMMARY
[0004] The system and method of the present embodiment address the
needs of encoding standard-formatted images with information, for
example, but not limited to, geospatial information. The system and
method of the present embodiment allow geospatial information, such
as map coordinates, scale, projection, datum, and others to be
attached to standard-formatted images such as, for example, but not
limited to, PNG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, JPEG, and many other image types.
This enables the standard-formatted images to be shown in
geospatial information systems as map images, while preserving
their compatibility with other systems like web browsers and mobile
phones.
[0005] The system and method of the present embodiment provide for
attaching information to any image, regardless of format, in a way
that can be processed with the same computer code by any reader,
regardless of the format of the standard-formatted image. The
structure of the new format allows the standard-formatted image to
be readable in the current way as well as by technology that could
make use of the attached information. Adding data to the end of a
standard-formatted image file preserves compatibility with all
known image readers. Finalizing the additional data with a special
tag allows computer code to quickly determine if the additional
data are present. Including the size of the attached information,
perhaps formatted in XML format, allows computer code to quickly
retrieve the attached information. The XML format itself provides a
rich, extensible set of capabilities for example, but not limited
to, embedding thumbnail or alternative images of the
standard-format image, encoding digital signature information,
providing document change history, and providing labels and
annotations for the standard-format image. The user can also define
data specific to the particular standard-format image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of the data structure
of the image of the present embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of the
system of the present teachings; and
[0008] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the method of one embodiment of the
present teachings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The problems set forth above as well as further and other
problems are solved by the present teachings. These solutions and
other advantages are achieved by the various embodiments of the
teachings described herein below.
[0010] Referring now to FIG. 1, the system and method of the
present embodiment add a mark-up language document to the end of
any standard image format by using modified format 20. The system
and method of the present embodiment create, for example, but not
limited to, an XML schema document that outlines the proper, but
extensible, structure of the XML documents that can be appended to
image files. Standard image format 11 is image data in a standard
format such as, for example, but not limited to, PNG, TIFF, BMP,
GIF, JPEG, and any other image format. Standard image format 11 is
exactly as any standard image would be, the internals are
unchanged. Following standard image format 11 is mark-up language
document 13 encoded as bytes, followed by document size 15 in
bytes. Mark-up language document 13 can include, for example, but
not limited to, print-related information, such as, for example,
but not limited to, the trimming bounds for a printed image, and
the Dots Per Inch (DPI) of the printed image. Mark-up language
document 13 can also include information about the collection of
the image, for example, but not limited to, the camera model, the
satellite model, and the time and date of image capture. Still
further, mark-up language document 13 can include the
classification markings for the image. Attaching document size 15
to the image file allows quick retrieval of the size of mark-up
language document 13. Magic number 17, eight bytes long and can be
any number, follows document size 15. It is a tag indicating that a
record has been added.
[0011] Referring now to FIG. 2, system 100 for encoding
standard-formatted images 113 with associated information 112 can
include, but is not limited to including, image accessor 101
automatically accessing standard-formatted image 113 from, for
example, but not limited to, image database 131 through, for
example, but not limited to, electronic communications 133. System
100 can also include information receiver 102 automatically
receiving information 112 associated with standard-formatted image
113 from, for example, but not limited to, user input or
information database 135 through, for example, but not limited to,
electronic communications 133. System 100 can still further include
formatter 103 automatically formatting information 112 into
formatted information 115 which is formatted according to a mark-up
language, and sizer 107 automatically computing size 116 of
formatted information 115. System 100 can also include image
modifier 105 automatically creating encoded standard-formatted
image 125 by concatenating formatted information 115, size 116, and
a tag onto standard-formatted image 113. Image modifier 105 can
optionally provide encoded image 125 to, for example, but not
limited to, image display 139 or stored images 137 through, for
example, but not limited to, electronic communications 133.
Information 112 can optionally include geospatial information, a
digital signature, or document change history. The mark-up language
can optionally be XML. The standard-formatted image can optionally
be, for example, but not limited to, a JPEG image, a PNG image, a
TIFF image, a BMP image, a GIF image, or any other image type. The
tag can optionally include eight bytes.
[0012] Referring now to FIG. 3, method 150 for encoding
standard-formatted images with associated information can include,
but is not limited to including, the steps of automatically
accessing 151 a standard-formatted image, automatically receiving
153 information associated with the standard-formatted image,
automatically formatting 155 the information into a mark-up
language, automatically computing 157 the size of the formatted
information, and automatically creating 159 the encoded
standard-formatted image by concatenating the formatted
information, the size, and a tag onto the standard-formatted image.
The information can optionally include geospatial information, at
least one digital signature, and document change history. The
mark-up language can be, for example, but not limited to, XML. The
standard-formatted image can be, for example, but not limited to, a
JPEG image, a PNG image, a TIFF image, a BMP image, a GIF image, or
any other image type. The tag can optionally include, for example,
eight bytes.
[0013] Embodiments of the present teachings are directed to
computer systems for accomplishing the methods discussed in the
description herein, and to computer readable media containing
programs for accomplishing these methods. The raw data and results
can be stored for future retrieval and processing, printed,
displayed, transferred to another computer, and/or transferred
elsewhere. Communications links can be wired or wireless, for
example, using cellular communication systems, military
communications systems, and satellite communications systems. In an
exemplary embodiment, the software for the system is written in
FORTRAN and C. The system operates on a computer having a variable
number of CPUs. Other alternative computer platforms can be used.
The operating system can be, for example, but is not limited to,
WINDOWS.RTM. or LINUX.RTM..
[0014] The present embodiment is also directed to software for
accomplishing the methods discussed herein, and computer readable
media storing software for accomplishing these methods. The various
modules described herein can be accomplished on the same CPU, or
can be accomplished on a different computer. In compliance with the
statute, the present embodiment has been described in language more
or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to
be understood, however, that the present embodiment is not limited
to the specific features shown and described, since the means
herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the present
embodiment into effect.
[0015] Referring again primarily to FIG. 3, method 150 can be, in
whole or in part, implemented electronically. Signals representing
actions taken by elements of system 100 (FIG. 2) and other
disclosed embodiments can travel over at least one live
communications network and/or through electronic communications 133
(FIG. 2). Control and data information can be electronically
executed and stored on at least one computer-readable medium. The
system can be implemented to execute on at least one computer node
114 (FIG. 2) in at least one live communications network and/or
through electronic communications 133 (FIG. 2). Common forms of at
least one computer-readable medium can include, for example, but
not be limited to, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk,
magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a compact disk read
only memory or any other optical medium, punched cards, paper tape,
or any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a random
access memory, a programmable read only memory, and erasable
programmable read only memory (EPROM), a Flash EPROM, or any other
memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer
can read. Further, the at least one computer readable medium can
contain images in any form including, but not limited to, Graphic
Interchange Format (GIF), Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG),
Portable Network Graphics (PNG), Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG),
and Tagged Image File Format (TIFF).
[0016] The invention has been described with reference to certain
embodiments. It will be understood, however, that the invention is
not limited to the embodiments discussed above, and that
modification and variations are possible within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *